The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-23
BLAINE AND SHERMAN.
Deacon Smith on the Alleged Letter from,
Hhttsfnw Reid.


CINCINNATI, O., april oo.-1Nith refer.
ence to reports published in Eastern pa.
pers, in regard to an alleged letter from
Whitelaw Reid to Richard Smith, saying
that the Tribune had arrived at the con.
cfusion 10 abandon Blaine for the nomi.
nation for the Presidency and support
John Sherman, the representative OF the
Associated Press called upon Mr.. Rich.
ard Smith and asked him In regard to the
matter. Mr.. Smith said he had no.
ticed a statement In the press,
but knowing there was no such
correspondence and discovering that come
people felt that It did them good to keen
the runners aaoat he did not care 10
disturb their happiness, and he had
therefore, in split Of amusement, decid.
cd not to write a card or anything about
1t. He felt that what Mr. Reid wrote or
said to him WAS nobody's business. How.
ever, as there seemed to DO some intereat
attached to It, he had no objection to au-
swering such questions as the reporter
might ask, and said, "Go ahead" There.
upon the interview proceeded:
Reporter-"What about that Reid let
ter which you received2"
r. S.-"Whst letter?"'
Reporter-"The letter described by
WASHINGTON correspondent OF the New
York Erening P0,t, in which Reid said
that tho time has come at last for Mr..
Blaine to les 20 bis grip upon the Repub.
lican party 60 far as the Presidency ia
concerned, and for all hands to turn in
and nominate John Sherman, and that all
that wac necessary TO cause the Tribune to
swing into line wGs the positive assurance
that Sherman was going into the conven-
tion With solid delegation from Ohio"
K. 81 mover got any such letter from
him, and do not believe he ever wrote any
such letter."
Reporter-"Is be as hostile to Sherman
ns ever, then?"
R. S.-"No, he 10 not hostile to Sherman
at all; in fact don't think he ever was,
He told me that he would support Sher.
man with the greatest pleasure, If, when
the time came, he should be thought the
best nominee"
Rsporter-"So heia weakening OH Blaine
then, is he?"
Il, Swell l should hardly say that.
You can judge, however, from tho last |
had with him when was
in New York few weeks ago. told
him that it would be better politics to
nominate Sherman than Blaine. He said. |
..'Fery well, we certainly shan't fight Sher.
man. II you can get the ms jority of dele.
gates to your way OF thinking We will sup
port Sherman with the utmost heartiness,
| am not sure about his being good candi. |
date, but ! am sure that be would make a !
splendid President" He went on to ssy
that the Tribune would support Ben Harri. |
son with great pleasure, or Gresham, or
Allison. Phil Sheridan was mentioned. |
and he said he hnd not heard him talked
Of much, but knew him to be splendid
Republican and had the greatest adn,ira-
ton both for his public and personal char.
scter, and il he was nominated, would |
support him with enthusiasm. Il thought |
| bad got about enough, and started TO |
leave, when he said, Hold on, now, l |
want to say one thing more want to |
tell you further, that IL we united fully |
with you, and with all your friends in M
effort to nominate any Of those men you
named, and the convention should be
held within month, the wiioIe lot OF us
with all the power We could bring to bear,
could not prevent the nomination OF Mr.,
Blaine on the first ballot by scclamation."